The six-cylinder Ram 1500 pickup has proven to be quicker than the more expensive Hemi V8 version. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ The Nissan Versa, the most inexpensive new vehicle sold in the USA, has been discontinued for 2026, leaving no new vehicles on the market priced below $20,000. More at Cars Direct.
+ Polestar has secured $300 million in new financing and will convert roughly $300 million in debt into equity, giving the cash-burning EV maker financial breathing room. More at CBT News.
+ Stonepeak, an investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets, has agreed to acquire a majority controlling interest in lubricant supplier Castrol from BP. More at Automotive World.
+ Red Bull managing director Oliver Mintzlaff says the departure of Red Bull Formula 1 CEO Christian Horner and senior advisor Helmut Marko will not derail the team’s operations. More at Racer.
+ Consumer Reports’ latest survey found that plug-in hybrids suffered 80 percent more problems than pure gasoline vehicles, with the Ford Escape PHEV found to be least reliable. More at Autoblog.
+ Hyundai is recalling 51,587 vehicles in the United States due to a potential short circuit caused by incorrect installation of the trailer wiring harness, which could result in a fire. More at World Auto Forum.
+ Though station wagons were once popular models for Volvo in the USA, the last wagon the Swedish brand sells here, the V60 CC, will go out of production in April 2026. More at The Drive.
+ Honda has agreed to buy its co-owned EV battery plant near Jeffersonville, Ohio from LG Energy Solutions for $2.9 billion as it prepares for an all-new dedicated lineup. More at Electrek.
+ In testing, the Ram 1500 pickup equipped with the Hurricane turbocharged six proved to be considerably quicker from 0 to 60 mph than the more expensive Hemi V8 version. More at Car and Driver.
+ The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) has acquired Memphis Motorsports Park, also known as Memphis International Raceway, which includes a drag strip and a 3/4-mile oval. More at Dragzine.
Photo courtesy of Stellantis.
Review the previous MCG Executive Briefing from December 26 here.
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If this were a just world, Ram truck owners would be more concerned with torque than speed. It’s a truck not a sports car. However, the six has more torque than the Hemi so it’s still the better buy. But it’s Dodge so I predict buyers will opt for the Hemi 2 to 1.
The hoi polloi put a lot of faith in Consumer Reports and that whole electric car thing is looking worse and worse every day.
I owned a Tesla for five years. To me the consumer resistance to EVs is mainly a matter of perception.
PHEVs are significantly more trouble-prone while closed-loop hybrids are significantly less so. A lot of that has to do with Toyota and Honda having a huge market share of closed hybrids, and a system where the hybrid drive effectively replaces the transmission so the net added complexity is less than you’d think. Stellantis is hugely into PHEVs.